He is like Me

I recently read this short story:

Pastor Mishki was imprisoned in a Communist prison for 22 years, not even knowing of the welfare of his wife and six little children. A Communist was in the prison cell with him. One day, the Communist asked Pastor Mishki “Tell me in one sentence, what is Jesus like?” The pastor thought for a moment and replied, “You wish to know what Jesus is like? He is like me.” The Communist considered this and said, “Then I will love Him and respect Him.”

The word “Christian” means “little Christ”. We identify ourselves with our Savior by using His name. We are to be like Him. People are to see Him in us. If we call ourselves Christians but don’t act Christ-like, it is like identity theft. None of us wants a stranger using our name, signature, etc. to do illegal activities, so why would we attach Christ’s name to ourselves if we are going to act in a manner that is not pleasing to God? We are to strive toward godliness and being more like Jesus Christ. If an unbeliever were to ask you to tell them in one sentence what Jesus is like, would you be able to give the same answer Pastor Mishki gave? While we will never be perfect this side of Heaven, “He is like me” is the answer we should be striving for. Even if no one ever verbally asks us what Jesus is like, our lives should be a testimony of what He is like. Unbelievers should be attracted to Christianity just by watching our daily lives. Your life, and mine, could mean the difference between someone rejecting Christ or “loving and respecting Him” forever.

Saturday Psalm ~ 3-28-09

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

Saturday Psalm ~ 3-21-09

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah
Psalm 32:7

Faith Like Hudson's

While teaching a missionary story about Hudson Taylor and his work in China to a group of children, I not only learned about this man’s life, but also about the importance of trusting God and the power of prayer. Hudson Taylor was a man who trusted God for everything. He had great faith that God would provide even when it seemed impossible. Having a heart for the lost people of China, Hudson prayed and asked God to provide five people who were willing to be missionaries to China. God answered his prayer with those five people. Hudson then started praying for more missionaries. He had a dream of having two missionaries for each of the provinces of inland China and two for the country of Mongolia. Twenty-four people would be needed to fulfill this dream. Hudson trusted God, and God provided twenty-four men and women. While he thought this was wonderful, Hudson still wasn’t satisfied. There were so many people in China who had never heard the Gospel. So, Hudson began praying for more missionaries. He asked God for 70 willing men and women in the next three years. God provided 78! Hudson continued to pray for more missionaries, this time asking God for 100. While some people thought that was too many to ask for, Hudson trusted God to provide, and God sent 102 men and women to China and Mongolia! Hudson then asked God for what seemed like the impossible, 1000 missionaries in five years. Well, nothing is impossible for God. At the end of five years, not only had He provided the 1000 Hudson had asked for, but more. 1,153 men and women had gone to China to spread the Gospel! Today, China is a closed country. The Chinese government does not allow missionaries into the country and Christians are persecuted. However, the God we serve is the same one Hudson Taylor served. Nothing is impossible for Him, and He will spread His Gospel to the world. He is working in the hearts of the people of China, and they are growing in faith. As Christians, we need to take up the same faith Hudson Taylor had and ask God for the seemingly impossible. We serve an amazing God, and nothing is impossible for Him!

Satisfied with Life

Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age,
an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:8

While reading the book of Genesis, I came across this verse. I had read it before multiple times and it had always given me the same information: Abraham died and his family buried him. However, reading it this time, the middle part stood out to me. It says that when Abraham died, He was satisfied with life. I stopped to think over the life of Abraham. The Bible records for us not only this man’s great faith, but his weaknesses and failures as well. He lied several times and, at times, didn’t trust God to bring His promises to completion. We can be sure that Abraham was ashamed about the wrong things he had done. Nevertheless, the Bible records for all eternity that Abraham was satisfied with the life he had lived. He was human, a sinner, just like the rest of us. He did wrong. In spite of this, at the end of his life he looked back and felt that he had lived his life for the glory of God. What about us? Since reading this verse, I have pondered this question. It has been said that, “What you will be tomorrow you are becoming today”. The choices we make will affect the future. True there will be decisions we will regret. However, at the end of our earthly lives, will we look back on life and, like Abraham, be satisfied with how we have lived?

Saturday Psalm ~ 3-14-09

Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Psalm 29:1-2